Photos by Natasha Kavanaugh
The Siletz community turned out in force for the Siletz Warriors boys basketball team to help celebrate the team's state
championship with a potluck and winter sports awards ceremony.
Siletz Warriors claim boys 1A basketball championship
Chris Garza (above) flashes a "We're
No. I" sign at the community
celebration.
The sign (below right) says it all.
Courtesy photo by Selina Rilatos
Mateas Rilatos (below) holds a sign
made by his sister, Cameron, at the
homecoming celebration for the team
as it arrived in Siletz the day after the
championship game.
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Siletz News
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By Natasha Kavanaugh
The Siletz Warriors defeated The
Triad of Klamath Falls 70-56 to win the
2011 boys Class 1A state tournament at
Baker High School on March 5.
Both teams were playing in their first
Class 1A championship game, with Siletz
playing in the state basketball tournament
for the first time in 36 years.
Siletz Valley defeated Country Chris
tian, Damascus Christian and top-ranked
McKenzie - beating McKenzie for the
April 2011
first time in four tries this season - to
reach the title game.
The Warriors finished the season 22-5.
An awards ceremony and potluck
were held the following weekend. Words
of thanks poured into the community from
event organizers.
“Words cannot express how grate
ful I am for all of the people that came
forward to help with decorations, making
food, setting up and taking down tables
and chairs, washing dishes, sweeping and
mopping, selling shirts and taking orders,
producing and setting up video and slide
shows,” said Bonnie Crawford on behalf
of the Siletz Boosters.
Crawford also expressed thanks
to Kelley Ellis, who took on food and
kitchen duties.
“Your calm organizational skills kept
me from having a stroke,” said Crawford,
who also heaped a load of thanks on Tami
Miner, Leah Suitter, Stuart Whitehead,
Tony Whitehead, Marci Simmons, Tracey
Worman, Savannah Woman, Fawn Met
calf, Chuvonne and Willie Metcalf, Rob
ert Kentta, Buddy Lane, Sheila, and Isaac
DeAnda, Bob Line, Mariah Garza, Kathy
Kentta, Laura Duarte, Lorrie Syms, Emily
McMillan, David Morgan, Willie Wor
man, Michael Fisher and Reggie Butler.
Siletz Tribal Council member Loraine
Butler announced that the council will
purchase championship rings for the team
as well as the coaches, Dave Morgan and
Mike Fisher. Originally the Siletz Boost
ers were fundraising through T-shirt and
sweatshirt sales to purchase the rings.
The council’s generous contribution will
allow the Boosters to pay for warm-ups
and summer basketball camps instead.
Fawn Metcalf put a lot of effort
into creating a homecoming celebra
tion. Through brainstorming with the
community, she began rallying others to
decorate banners and signs and help get
the word out.
The team was met by a Siletz Valley
fire truck driven by BJ Wawrak to lead
them into town on March 6.
“Good thing for cell phones as they
kept us all in the know of where the bus was
to have BJ prepared,” said Heather Butler.
The streets through Siletz were
flooded with children who made their own
signs congratulating the team, as well as
the families, fans, alumni and community.
Heather and Reggie Butler expressed
thanks too for “everyone who hoo’rah’d
our team back into good ol’ Siletz.”
The state championship brought a
lot of pride with it, which was clearly
evident on the faces of Siletz residents
young and old.
“I cried when I saw everyone lined
up - it was overwhelming for me to know
you were all there to cheer on our boys!
How special for them! My cheeks still
hurt! And I’m still smiling,” said Suitter.